Sophie Ellis Bextor's dreamy new video

Sophie Ellis Bextor's career has been rejuvenated by her sumptuous new album, Wanderlust. It entered the chart at number four in January (her previous record peaked at 33), then it hung around in the Top 10 for several weeks.

The record's wintry, Siberian ballads have turned out to be a perfect setting for the singer's icy vocals. And the fact that lead single Young Blood was tailor-made for Radio 2 (ahoy there, Strictly mums!) didn't hurt either.

I talked it all over with a (clearly delighted) Sophie on the Brits red carpet two of weeks ago.

Q: Congratulations on the chart placings. You must be gutted the record came out slightly too late for a Brit nomination.

Thank you for noticing, firstly! But, oh golly, everything I do is always about hoping that I get to keep my day job and make more music., I don’t really need a Brit to feel successful. I've been doing this for too long – I know how easy it is to fall off the planet.

Q: Is it your most successful album yet?

Since my first one, yes. It feels really gratifying because the album was self-funded. It was made with really good intentions, and no expectations. So it's a lovely feeling.

Ah, bless her cotton socks. The second single off Wanderlust is Runaway Dreamer. Like Young Blood, the video was shot by Sophie Muller, and is based around the album's gorgeous cover shot (or was it the other way round, who knows?).


PS: Let's hope Sophie's third single is one of the record's uptempo numbers - maybe the rumbling, rockabilly 13 Little Dolls?

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